Marching as to War. (Closed. ATTN: Apoctis.)

[East Jordan II]

IC:

Mt. Pleasant, East Jordan

President Herbert K. Jordan sat in the room at the conference table and watched as the military briefing officers moved the various markers and drawn lines about on the map which had been set up to show Estabul, the region of land between the United States of East Jordan and Apoctis. Thus far, perhaps thirty percent of the region had been occupied, with the locals being unable to resist very effectively due to the complete lack of any central government apparatus.

He shuddered as he watched the officers change the map around once more. Apoctis was a hideous nation, barely worthy of being called a state, and one of the few good things that had always made living next to them a tolerable experience was Estabul. A loosely bound confederation of cities, small towns, and farming communities, Estabul had been there with relative continuity as it was for at least a century. They had always kept a certain...comfortable distance between East Jordan and Apoctis.

Now, however, somebody in Apoctis looked set to change all of that. Apoctian forces were running across the bordering lands in to Estabul, thankfully in fairly small numbers to date, moving in and taking over any community in their paths, doing God alone knew what with the local people. The few accounts to escape to date were enough to make a man want to be sick.

Estabul had no central government, but an emergency "Assembly of Estabul" had convened from the remaining cities, and requested aid from East Jordan. Now the President waited, hoping the meeting with this Apoctian representative, this Daen, would go well. He sat with his Secretary of State and his Secretary of War, Naomi Chi and Duncan Taranto, while at least three hours passed.

Finally...

"Mr. President?" The secretary looked through the door, waiting until she had his attention. "The delegate from Apoctis is here."

President Jordan took a deep breath, as Naomi and Duncan glanced his way.

"Very well," he said at last. "See that he is unarmed, and then show him in."

"Yes, Mr. President."

[Apoctis]

The head of the final Warlord of the Warband fell under Karnak's axe as the followers of this Warband and all the others he was able to bring under his control knelt to him. He was ambitious to start pillaging and destroying all that laid in his path and was eager for a shot at the people of Estabul. Forces of chaos had already begun raids on this land but in small numbers but now the 10 thousand men(and a few thousand creatures and such) he had under his command now would be a nice surprise to these people. This land would surely fall under his control. He knelt and prayed to his God Apoctis who had given the gift of abnormal strength and stamina, and then he stood up

Karnak summoned his men(and abominations and such) for a speech
"Soldiers of Apoctis we are going into Estabul and we are going to take the land and drink the blood that flows from its people, to the border"

A huge roar from the soldiers of darkness erupted as the sounds of treads,screams of pain and hatred and metal armour creaked its way towards the unlucky nation of Estabul.

The sky blackened and the earth moaned with the movement of troops and vehicles, the soldiers all laughing maniacally at the hideous acts that were about to be perpetrated. Karank and his men reached the boarder and Karnak raised himself to look at the closet boarder town in Estabul, Raising his Axe the soldiers and tanks roared forward in a scream of untold hatred. The village taken completely by surprise tried to evacuate its people but the bullets from the guns of chaos found their mark (for the lucky) and if they were not lucky the axes,hands of the soldiers ripped apart the helpless civilians. For those who were the worst off daemons roared fiercely as they raped the skulls of those they had consumed and other villagers went insane as they shrivelled on the ground waiting for their hides to be skinned. The tanks blew apart and gunned down everything else as they tried to escape none were left alive. Karnak laughed maniacly as he pulled his bloody axe from a childs head and then removed the skull forcing an iron hook hanging off his waist through the bone piece, placing it back on his waist he looked up at the sky and roared as chaos erupted all around him.


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Daen stepped into the office of The president of this human state gracefully, his armour polished and black. He walked slowly over to the figure sitting at the desk and looked at him and then sat down in the chair facing the president. "Hello Mr. President" Daen said in a hollow voice that would make any man shake. Daen's eyes focused on the presidents a gaze that would make someone feel soulless and break out into a sweat. "I hear you wish to speak to me about something" Rigidly Daen sat there waiting for a response. Unimpressed by the area in which he was and uncaring of what these petty mortals had to say.

[East Jordan II]

IC:

National Marshaling Site 001

Located just outside the city of Holland, fifty miles from Estabul's borderline with East Jordanian territory, NMS - 001 was the location which had been selected by the Armed Forces leadership to serve as the main gathering place for troops being gathered to intimidate Apoctis in to backing down, and, if necessary, to make them back down.

Men were gathering from across the small country in increasing numbers, arriving in Holland at the rail terminal before being loaded on large trucks and taken out to the Site, where loads of equipment, ammunition and supplies were handed out to them to prepare them for possible deployment.

First were the units of the Regular Army, the professional, standing military force of the state. Not very numerous in a nation like East Jordan, they were hardy professionals with a rough, prepared look about them. Wearing well kept uniforms, and possessed of both a stern professionalism and a seeming disdain for everything else in the world, they seemed as if they were ready for anything, at any time.

Backing them up were the various National Guard units, volunteered by and gathered from all thirteen States to reinforce any potential mission to Estabul, as well as forestall attack by Apoctis in to Jordanian territory. Unlike the Regular Army personnel, these were part-time soldiers. They got the same training, the same organization, the same equipment, but not the same time on the job. Apart from a small percentage who did work full-time on their respective State's payrolls, most of them worked civilian jobs, coming in to serve just a minimum time every month, and one annual training program. Regarded as backup to the Regular Army, they could be called out at any instant.

Looking out on the gathering forces, Major-General Richard Lee Turberville Beale, USA, knew this may not be all that would be brought. If things went badly, the Volunteer Army was likely to be used, a force of fresh volunteers called out by the President, and perhaps even conscripts if things got really bad.

He shook his head, and prayed that would not happen.

******************************

President Jordan stared back at the man sitting across from him, doing his best to seem impassive. His mind screamed 'What a freak!' but he was too much a politician to say it out loud. Besides, he reflected humorously, that probably would not do the negotiations any favors.

"Sir," he said. "No doubt you are aware of the recent...violations of territorial rights in Estabul carried out by war-bands from your country. These raiders are slaughtering innocents by the thousands in places, burning whole communities to the ground."

He leaned back a bit, as though relaxing.

"Frankly, sir, East Jordan finds this unacceptable, and we intend to do something about it."

Naomi Chi, the Secretary of State, handed him a small piece of hard copy, which he offered to Daen.

"Last week a message arrived from a council of concerned parties in Estabul, requesting our assistance. We intend to give it to them. As such, we demand that all Apoctian forces leave Estabul within the week, or we will take actions to remove them."

[Apoctis]

Karnak looked forward at the next town this one was prepared for an attack and defended by a small militia of Estabul men. Karnak laughed and turned around to his troops and called out "bring me the blood letters" a rustle in the horde was heard and all of the sudden deamons in chains came forth equipped with nothing but swords. Karnak pointed at the pathetic barricades and yelled "Foul creatures go forth and do your god's biding and spare no one." then breaking the chains with his axe the Blood letters roared in a loud scream as the horde chanted and the tanks fired to provide cover for the advancing abominations. The defences guns blared at the beasts but no bullet seemed to find its mark.

All of the sudden a group of the defenders started to twitch and out of their bodies bursted more of the abominations that were running towards them, this started happening throughout the town, as mothers holding their babies, soon were found as daemons devouring them, those who could resist the daemon possession were either going insane at the thoughts these creatures were putting into their heads or being stabbed and ripped apart. The barricades were overrun within minutes after the charge and all was lost for the defenders.

The Town erupted in fire as Karnak Smiled beneath his helmet, raising his pistol he started running forward yelling "CHARGE!!!" and the yell echoed amongst the soldiers and screams amongst the abominations still retained (not blood letters). They rushed forward under cover fire of the tanks, wielding their weapons and firing their guns, but there was not much left to kill but of what there was it was sent to oblivion.

Karnak looked at his army in pride, their armour now stained with fresh blood and their banners and war machines and armour decorated with the corpses , skins, and bones of their recent victims shawn brightly under the red sky. The land itself had turned dark and devoid of life and all nature seemed to scream in rage because of his forces. Prepared for any obstacle, his army was thirsty for more blood so he would lead them on to the next town for the next massacre, the number of blood letters had significantly increased from the possessions, and Karnak was pleased "Foolish mortals and their weak minds' he thought as he lead the horde of chaos away from the conquered town and in the direction of the next one.
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Daen smiled and sighed "you think I have authority over the Warlord that is perpetrating this act, no i can not do anything." Daens armour creaked as he stood up the paper burning into flames within his grasp.

His eyes slimed "go ahead do something about it but pray you do not lose for once again I hold no sway over what this warlord decides to do, and how many lives you wish to lose is your problem,I must return to Apoctis and continue important duties than to sit here discussing how
Chaos works to a mortal and why you are forcing death apon yourself. If you declare war against this nation do so in mind of what you have unleashed, I will not declare war on you for attacking our "forces" as you call them because that is the way of Chaos, the stronger are the victors."

Daen turned around and strode out in his black armour the temperature in the room returning to normal.

[East Jordan II]

IC:

President Jordan looked at the two Cabinet Secretaries with him, a grim expression set upon his face.

"That could have gone better," he observed coolly. They both nodded.

"What now?" Duncan asked, and the President heaved a sigh in response.

"Duncan, we need to do as we promised. We can't let Estabul be overrun. You will send orders to General Beale, instructing him that he is to march in to Estabul with the 1st Legion, in accordance with our plans, and take control of the city of Nerissa to reinforce it against possible attack. Nerissa controls the main road in to East Jordan from Estabul, and though no Apoctian forces have left southern Estabul as yet, we'd best set up a solid base in the area as quickly as possible. From there, Tygale would be an ideal target location."

"At once, Mr. President."

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The first wave of East Jordanian troops left the Marshalling Site early in the morning, the first battalion of the 1st Legion, a combined-arms brigade force, moving overland using all normal methods; heavy tanks, armored vehicles and such like. They would reach Nerissa within seven days, well before the Apoctian advance reached anywhere near to the city.

In advance of the land force, a reinforced company of Jordanian paratroopers were sent ahead in a trio of C-130 Hercules transport planes, to boost Nerissan morale.

[Apoctis]

Karnak stood looking at the town that stood in the way of Narisa and laughed, this time his tactics would differ. He decided to sen his Hunter tanks forward and leading the assault The engines roared as Karnak motioned for their movement.

The Hunter tanks opened fire in a grim blaze of death and destruction, but nothing seemed to move within the town as it was being destroyed. Confused Karnak ordered his men on the raiding bikes to go down and have a look. The bikes roared off as the soldiers wielding swords and pistols screamed toward the town which was now on fire and partially in ruins. The raiders later returned and reported

"Lord Karnak it seems that there is no one in the town, some sort of evacuation or something, signs point to them leaving for the capital Narisa." said the captain of the bike squad

Karnak grimaced "WHAT, there must be some sort of outside force that has intervened otherwise we would of met an opposition force"

Karnak pointed at the town "This is where we make camp for today for tomorrow we will launch the attack on who so ever dares intervene in my massacre". This speech was followed by loud chants and an sounds of movement as the horde headed towards the town. Karnak looked off at the outline of the city in the distance as his forces were turning the nice town onto a chaos cesspool.

"How little these people understand the powers they mess with" Karnak smiled and walked down to the town.

[Apoctis]

Karnak and his forces mobilized for the city, the roar of Deamons and the sound of the restless horde eager for killing almost drowned out the sound of the tank treads rolling on the ground. Karnak lead the movement up front as he approached the ope fields leading towards the city he noticed a large amount of soldiers and defensive structures. Karnak pleased that he was right about another nation wanting to sacrifice themselves to his gods.

Karnak turned around and ordered his tanks to his position, He then ordered the bikes to circle around to the right and storm in from there. he called to his daemons and asked them to start talking to the enemy forces within their minds to turn them insane and possibly against their fellow soldiers. Karnak, ordered his forces around until he was satisfied. "No cover" he thought as he analyzed the plains leading to the well entrenched forces. "Very well we shall advance quickly behind our tanks." He motioned for the order to stop. He turned and called for a group of a hundred men to sneak into the city and start attacking from there, The Leader of these men Taraz nodded at the plan and headed off to the right with his 10 squads(squads of 10 soldiers). Karnak then knelt down and prayed to the God Apoctis. Rising up and filled with power he called forth the large transports to be filled with the berserkers of Khorne and then motioned them forward.

The berserkers roaring ran into the machines waving their axes and bolt pistols (there are 6 filled with 15 guys each) and these roared forward blasting their guns (all heavy machine gun type one one front and 2 on each side) as these monstrosities roared forward. These machines were big enough for a squad to hide behind and so an extra 6 squads followed up the rear each behind one of these machines , but these were normal soldiers with Bolters (think semi-automatic rifles for MT)
Each squad had a man carrying a heavy Bolter (a light machine gun with devastating rate of fire, can't move and shoot with it accurately but if you stand still it is decent) as these forces moved forward Karnak took up his axe and yelled "FOR CHAOS, FOR APOCTIS" and the chant of the soldiers grew louder and louder until it echoed across the battlefield he then ordered his forces forward under the cover fire of the tanks. The small transporst (carrying 10 men, there are 100 transports) roared up and into the line of transports blocking incoming fire from hitting the mass of soldiers that had to slog it on foot

Then the tanks opened up on the defences (i do not know what these do to your defences as I do not know what you exactly have but the weapons are a standerd explosive artillery cannon and on each side a set of heavy Bolters (which a tanks can fire and move decently) and on the top a pintle mounted storm Bolter (just a standard Bolter with a more devastating rate of fire) that is unmanned at the moment on all tanks excluding the large transports and the small transports.

Overhead screamed the hell blades forward, the forces ready to intercept any bomber and destroy it (there are 200 of these piloted by 1 man) and Hellblade bomber/fighters (200 of these piloted by 1 man) screamed forwards as well ready to bomb the defences and the city.(I will let you respond to this as well assuming you will try to shoot them down and succeed in killing a few and then the bombs will be dropped and you again decide the damage.)

Daemons ran out in front of all the tanks in a mass of evil and destruction, all the Daemons all 2 thousand and 50 of the most horrific forms and abominations one could ever see, as the Daemons ran forward the voices of the warp and the Daemons in the warp were trying to turn the enemy against themselves.

OOC: from the town event I got and extra 50. I hope you have some possessions occur as well as there are voices going through your soldiers heads trying to make them ,go insane, turn into a Daemon, worship one of the gods and turn against his fellow soldiers, or kill himself, but what these voices do is up to you.

This massive movement of troops took place the sky darkened and turned red as if it was aware of the blood about to be spilt and it was pleased. This demoralizing scene looked like a picture from any book depicting the Apocalypse and Karnak running forward behind the rolling tanks waving his axe and holding his pistol was excited to finally kill a worthy opposition force.